Tag Archives: catholic culture

December 19, 2011 · 7:54 pm

Christmas symbols are in the eye of the beholder | National Catholic Reporter

Christmas symbols are in the eye of the beholder | National Catholic Reporter.

When is a candy cane not just a candy cane?

For some people, its red and white stripes might signify the sacrifice and purity of Jesus, or maybe just a 19th-century candy-maker’s twist intended to dazzle his grandchildren. Both stories are alive and well on the Internet.

The above article in the National Catholic Reporter is a good follow-up to yesterday`s blog post on the christmas wars. It discusses how Christian meanings have been given to many of our Christmas symbols. I`ve read these descriptions before. On the one hand, it`s rather nice to give a religious interpretation to seemingly secular symbols. On the other hand, when does it just become a stretch of the imagination? Is it necessary to Christianize symbols before we can enjoy them? Perhaps sharing `secular` traditions and symbols can be seen as promoting a common ground with friends who don`t celebrate a religious Christmas; unifying us rather than dividing.

I confess to chuckling over the deeper meaning of gingerbread men (people!).

The Confraternity of Penitents, a private Roman Catholic group centered in Middletown, R.I., might disagree. Their website offers “the Christian meaning” behind 44 common Christmas symbols. Gingerbread men, according to the site, are like human beings; they do not create themselves but are created.

“Spices, reminiscent of those mentioned in the Old Testament, make the gingerbread man the color of earth (Adam was created from the dust of the earth),” the site continues. “Like us, gingerbread people are not immortal. They are destined to be eaten and thus to unite with their creators.”

REALLY??? (add the voices of SNL`s Amy Poehler and Seth Myers!)  This is reminiscent of a first year English student`s clumsy attempts at poetry interpretation. How can I enjoy my favorite cookies with images of my mortality dancing in my head? Okay, the movie Shrek offers a similar message and fate for our poor gingerbread man. But, at least it`s funny!

Sharon Sherman, a professor of folklore at the University of Oregon, sums it up nicely,

“What’s important in most people’s minds is how a given symbol or tradition is explained within his or her own family,” whether it’s their biological family or a more intentional grouping. It’s family that pulls us all “home” for Christmas, she added, across the miles or in our hearts. And Christmas, whether one assigns it religious significance or not, is, after all, all about traditions, she said.

“Whether we’re spiritual or not,” she said, “traditions hold us together.”

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November 24, 2011 · 9:39 am

advent with wee ones

provided by Microsoft

Yesterday I wrote about Advent in a monastery. I had one of those. But, hubby and I have had many more advents with a houseful of wee ones. The memories make us smile now. At the time we questioned our efforts at being a model, Catholic family. It was a struggle, as it is today, to compete with the early onslaught of Christmas.

But, all our friends have their Christmas trees up! Why do we have to wait? Moan, groan. Being a Catholic sucks!

We usually tried to hold out until the 4th Sunday of Advent; or the third, depending on the calendar.

Our evening meals began with an Advent prayer and lighting the Advent candles. Catholics love the earthiness of hands-on signs and symbols, and the Advent wreath is one of my favorites. The rich greenness. The circle of eternity. The three purple candles with a pink one for Gaudete Sunday,signifying joy. The white candle in the center for Christmas. It was a perfect teachable moment for family prayer time.

The children were eager to participate. Everyone wanted to light the candles. And, everyone wanted to blow them out. And that`s where the fun began…

Our peacefully watching and waiting dinner table turned into a chaotic struggle. Our mini pyromaniacs reached for matches and leaned over the lit wreath. Wax flew as candles were blown out by a helpful sib as soon as they were lit. Of course we had a schedule, but it did not guarantee a smooth process.

But, why does he get to light two candles when I only got to light one? It`s not fairrrrrr!!! 

But, I WANT to light the pink one now! 

Shush and sit down. We`re trying to pray!

Ah, those were the days. Hubby and I still have wishful moments of going back to the chaos of raising five children. Happily, this year we are blessed with the first of many (we hope!) grand-children to join us at our table. Here`s to keeping traditions alive!

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November 11, 2011 · 12:18 pm

roman style

There`s no denying that Romans have style. Women, men, young and old have an air of confidence in their appearance. Their clothing choices lean towards black; a fashion tip that I embraced many years ago. Black is easy to mix and match. It moves gracefully from casual to dress-up. And, it is impervious to the ever-present street grime of this ancient city. (Travel tip – leave your white pants at home!)

I am in awe of Italian women. They navigate cobble-stone streets in stiletto heels and maneuver motor-cycles and scooters through the crazy maze of narrow streets that is Rome. And, they are gorgeous. Not in the American, blonde Barbie kind of way. Few have perky little button noses. Having been blessed rather generously in the proboscis department, I`m heartened to see women who are not only comfortable in their natural looks, but who allow their beauty to glow. Three cheers for the Roman nose!

Style is apparently important in ecclesiastical circles, also. Window shopping in the vicinity of St. Peter`s provides an interesting diversity of wares. Souvenir shops filled with plastic Pietàs and glow in the dark rosaries share street space with high-end clerical fashion stores. There seems to be a market for these duds. Young priests and seminarians decked out in cassocks and impeccably tailored black suits abound. Hollywood casting directors wouldn`t have to look far for Bing Crosby or Spencer Tracey look-a-likes.

Also spotted were young women in full religious habits. These were no shrinking violets of humility. They, too, had an air of confidence. Their veiled heads held high and long skirts swooshed with their brisk steps. It made me wonder about the upcoming generation of religious sisters and priests. I also wondered where the high-end nun shops were. ;-)

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November 8, 2011 · 10:34 am

musing on rome

I arrived home Sunday night from a trip to Rome. Jet-lag has the same effect on me as post-partum blues. No matter how wonderful the experience, the heavy headedness and physical exhaustion of sleep deprivation leave me drained of energy and excitement.

This was my eleventh trip to the eternal city. While the novelty of the land-marks has worn off, the history and grandeur is still impossible to ignore. The day I arrived, I headed out for a leisurely tour of the city with a dear, American friend. While discussing a possible agenda, he begged `anything but churches and stones`! I chuckled. But I also understood.

I remember the awe I felt the first time I stepped into the grand basilicas of Rome. The size and majesty of St. Peter`s alone still takes my breath away. My Catholic heart beats a bit faster as it takes in the history and significance of this sacred place. This is our spiritual family home. Yes, it`s dysfunctional at times, but still our home.

My Catholic mind also reminds me of the reality of the boom years of Renaissance construction. The grand churches in Rome were built on the backs of the poor, desperately buying their way into heaven with indulgences. How many lives were sacrificed to the hard labor of such grandiose, papal monuments?

The sheer number of churches is mind-boggling. After the excitement of the first few, I find myself making a cursory walk up and down the side aisles and chapels with diminished emotions. The mind begins to wonder, dreaming of the next plate of pasta and bottle of wine.

Majestic fountains, sweeping ruins, and catacombs are found at the turn of every corner. Tacky souvenir stands sell the same trinkets year after year. Street vendors surround you with passionate pleas to buy their scarves, cheap jewelry, or knock-off purses. The distinctive sounds include the sirens of Roman ambulances and speeding motor-bikes and scooters.

Ah, Roma. It will always be more than a city. It is both symbol and a unique presence.

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September 28, 2011 · 5:00 pm

teaching the faith – who`s responsible?

The family is supposed to be the primary educator of the faith. In his 1979 Apostolic Exhortation, Catechesi Tradendae (Catechesis in our Time), John Paul II stresses that it is within the ecclesia domestica, or domestic church, that children are formed in their faith. When I first read this, I interpreted it as a wonderful shout-out to the subsidiarity of the family unit. In a church that too often thinks in hierarchical terms, here`s an example of Mom and Dad coming out on top! Do you hear that, Father?!

Of course, all families do not accept or embrace this responsibility of primary educators; whether in secular or religious education. It’s easier to pass the buck to the ‘professional’ teachers, even if those teachers are ill-equipped or under-qualified volunteers.

Formation in the faith is more than memorizing dogma and prayers for one hour a week. It requires being immersed in your faith, allowing it to weave into your daily life. The sacramental spirituality of Catholicism encourages us to put flesh on our beliefs through meaningful routines and ritual actions.

Crucifixes on our walls and around our necks remind us that our darkest worries can be raised in hope-filled prayer. Statues and pictures of Mary and the saints remind us that we have friends standing by to pray with us and pray for us. Praying as a family answers the summons of ‘where two or more are gathered in my name’. Collecting pennies from our Lenten sacrifices connects us to social justice actions around the world, with a preferential option for the poor. And we gather as the Body of Christ to celebrate the Eucharist; the source and summit of our faith.

But what about the child who comes to the parish catechism class with little or no exposure to their faith? What about the child who seldom sets foot in a church? Where does a catechist begin? What would Jesus do?

We know what Jesus would do. He would welcome all the little ones with open arms, without judgment. And this is what a good catechist would do. If the one hour a week of parish catechism classes is all the faith formation that a child will receive, then the catechist will try to make the best of that hour. And let God do the rest.

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August 29, 2011 · 9:30 am

why stay catholic?

Following the happenings in the Catholic Church can be a heady endeavour. At times you want to pull your hair out and scream “enough!” It begins to weigh you down, and sucks all the energy from you. The rants no longer bring relief. The right-left bashing and incivility on the discussion boards seem meaningless and petty. People, get a life! And then that ever-present question starts to wind its way from deep within…so, why am I still a Catholic?

Last week, in the midst of my funk, I read a review on a book called Why Stay Catholic?Unexpected Answers to a Life-Changing Question by Michael Leach. (March 15, 2011). Thanks to the glories of my new iPad, I down-loaded the book in seconds and dug in. It’s format is very readable. This isn’t a heavy, theological tome trying to convince you with apologetics and dogmas. The chapters are short reflections, full of quotations from spiritual masters and ordinary folk. It’s an unabashedly optimistic and hopeful look at the good that is present in Catholicism, despite the sinfulness.

Here’s an example. The chapter is called “The Bethlehem Principle (There is Room in the Church for Everyone or There is Room for No One).”

There is room in the church for every pope and for everyone he corrects and for everyone who corrects him; for members of Call to Action and followers of Opus Dei; for those who receive communion on the pillow of their tongue and for those who prefer the cup of their palm; for those who save their money for a pilgrimage to Medjugorje and for those who blow it at Vegas; for sinners, saints, and fools…If there is not room for everyone, the church is not a home but a country club. 

It was James Joyce who said “Catholicism means here comes everybody!” I need to be reminded of this when I feel weighed down with doctrinal walls and those who spend their energies building and fortifying them. I need to be reminded of this when small-minded pastors and bishops draw lines in the sand like bullies, daring anyone to step across. I need to be reminded of this when I get irritated with those who espouse ideologies and theologies that differ from mine. The Church is greater than our pettiness. And, we do a grave disservice to the Church when we try to judge who is in and who is out.

I love the serendipitous aspect of books – when the right book falls into your lap at the right time. Why Stay Catholic? is one of those books. Here’s to hope and optimism!

 


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May 26, 2011 · 6:00 am

sunday tourist

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa

My husband loves to attend new churches while on holidays. I do too…now. Things were much different when we travelled with five energetic children in tow. Sunday mass was enough of a challenge in the familiar surroundings of our home parish. In a new church, I couldn’t relax until I had mapped out a quick exit to the basement or the crying room. And, I definitely had to locate the washrooms for the quick dash with the potty trainer of the moment. A large church offered some anonymity. With our crew, it was hard to slip in to the pews of a small, half empty church without all eyes turning towards us.

On our recent trip to Ottawa, our friends arranged for us all to attend Sunday mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Notre Dame. Its beauty befits our capital city, and the grandeur contrasts to the simplicity of our rural church. The liturgy itself was a musical treat, thanks to the pipe organ and soaring voices of the cathedral choir. There was a nice balance between songs for the full congregation, and exquisite choral pieces to inspire moments of prayer. And when the organ belted out for all to sing, it was easy to raise your voice with no worries of sour notes. You were lifted up by the glorious sound, and could almost believe that you, too, sounded this good!

When on holidays, you don’t have to take a holiday from Sunday mass. For those who are actively involved in their home parish, being a tourist is an opportunity to sit back and enter into the worship space without the temporal worries of liturgical preparations. And if you really want a taste of the local color and culture of a place, enter into a church and join a community in prayer.

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April 28, 2011 · 6:00 am

the making of saints – is it worth it?

Is there value in giving official recognition of sanctity to women and men in our Church?

On the plus side…

The church is Catholic – universal. We are women and men of diverse vocations and life choices. We embrace different charisms and spiritualities woven into the tapestry of our history. We come from many cultures, professions, and educational back-grounds. We need to know saintly women and men who led lives like ours, people whom we can relate to, look up to and be inspired by. We need heavenly patrons – a personal link to the powerful prayer machine called the communion of saints.

For a religious congregation or ecclesial movement, having a founder or member elevated as a Blessed (beatification) or Saint (canonization) is a source of great energy and pride. It not only affirms the person`s sanctity, it is also an affirmation for the spiritual path chosen by their followers.

On the negative side…

There`s no denying that beatification and canonization is a bureaucratic process. It is an intense and expensive venture requiring years of painstaking research and investigation before the cause can be presented to the Vatican for consideration. Many smaller communities, congregations or movements cannot afford either the time or the money.

There can also be political overtones. Elevating a person to sainthood does not automatically canonize all their thoughts and teachings. But, the appearance of ideological support is hard to ignore. For example, despite the controversy surrounding Opus Dei, John Paul II canonized their founder, Josemaria Escrivá, a mere 27 years after his death. Oscar Romero and Dorothy Day are yet to be beatified despite their active social justice works.

We need our saints, from centuries ago and from modern times. The Church`s process for beatification and canonization merely affirms that a person led a life of courageous faith and sanctity, and we believe that they have now entered eternal glory. We all know many saints who have gone before us. The hidden lives of these holy women and men, family and friends, may not receive a Vatican celebration. But they share the same glory as the great saints of history.

Whether or not our loved ones make the official list, we unite with them in prayer across time and space. We know that they will pray with us and pray for us.

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April 26, 2011 · 4:47 pm

royal weddings and papal beatifications

Royal watchers and Vatican watchers are gearing up for this week-end`s celebrations. The upcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton have media outlets falling over themselves to grab the exclusive scoop on dresses, menus, and guest lists. Meanwhile, Rome is preparing for the hopeful onslaught of pilgrims for the May 1st Beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul II. Not surprisingly, Will and Kate are stealing the international media thunder.  The Wall Street Journal published an online article today describing the Vatican`s disappointments;  Pope Vies With Prince for Public Eye.    

In all fairness, when John Paul II died the non-stop media coverage was a tribute to his global influence inside and outside of the Church. He was the first pontiff to embrace the power of the media, and used it to his advantage. He was the most travelled, most heard, and most filmed and photographed pope. He was often a divisive figure in his own Church, but his influence on the world stage could not be ignored.

Is it the duty of the international media to cover the beatification with the same energy as his death? I don`t think so. The beatification and canonization processes are part of our Catholic tradition. As with many of our traditions, we can`t expect everyone to understand their significance. And this beatification, in particular, comes with its own mixed emotions and naysayers. (Now these have made news headlines.)

So, how do we explain the mega-hype over the Royal wedding? What have William and Kate accomplished on the world stage? One was born into privilege and fame. Fortuitous circumstances brought the two together. Where is all the adulation and excitement coming from? Where is the anti-monarchist sentiment that we hear so much about here in the colonies?

Sigh…all is a mystery!

(Next: pondering the Beatification of John Paul II)

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April 14, 2011 · 6:00 am

lent on the prairies

My mother-in-law claims that an early Easter means an early spring. A late Easter means that spring will take her time in arriving. The rule is proven true this year. We have been tormented with a seemingly endless winter.  Warm temperatures are finally melting the snows, but our joy is tempered with dire forecasts of yet another spring flood.

My husband is convinced that we don`t have to seek suffering in Lent. It will find us. He admits that this just might be a personal superstition. I wonder if the seasonal reality of life in the northern part of the world adds to the emotional heaviness during these Lenten weeks.

The weather on the Canadian prairies is almost always in synch with our liturgical seasons. The snows and frigid colds of December add to the beauty of Advent and Christmas. In night`s deep stillness describes well the silent beauty of falling snow on a dark, December night. The brilliance of winter white acts as the perfect back-drop to colourful lights and decorations as we celebrate the joy of the Incarnation.

By February, the snow has turned to frozen drifts, dirtied by road sand and debris. Each snow-fall and blizzard is met with groans as treacherous roads are navigated or travel plans are changed. The winter of February and March is the ugly cousin of December`s Christmas card beauty. A Lenten mood descends on all.

Ah, but then no one appreciates spring like prairie folk! Our leaves are gone by September, and often don`t return in their fullness until late May or early June. By this time of the year, we are all craving green. We search for the first buds on the trees, the first tiny shoots from the ground. We rejoice to see the farmers finally get on the fields, and pray for God`s blessing for a fruitful year. We have reason to rejoice in the promise of new life at Easter!

How do the seasons in your part of the world affect your experience of Lent and Easter?

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